Clamp



March 27, 1962 v. E. DUDLEY CLAMP Filed Nov. 27, 1959 Vernon E. Dudley o A w. M 1 by M United tates 3,525,592 Patented Mar. 27, 1952 free 3,026,592 CLAMP This invention relates to fasteners and more particularly to clamps.

An object of the invention is to provide unique clamps adapted to be used in connection with a number of different materials.

An important feature of the invention is found in the structural organization which includes a flat spring which flexes open providing a maximum width entrance to the clamp. This is especially important when the clamp is used with bulky or fluify material.

Another important feature of the invention is found in the method of assembly that is, the structural parts of the clamp which make assembly a very simple matter.

Briefly, clamps constructed in accordance with the invention have essentially Ushaped bodies with an entrance at the open end thereof, together with a handle pivotally connected to one side of the U-shaped body and adapted to be operated between the open and closed positions. A flat metal spring is provided on the interior surface of the body and is deflected between the clamping and release positions in response to operation of the handle. Cam structure on the handle deflects the spring so that it compresses the material between the sides of the clamp body.

Although difierent types of materials may be clamped in accordance with clamps of the invention, it is contemplated that the clamps could well be used for supporting diverse or other cloth objects, doing the job very effectively and with certainty.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompnying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a clamp in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the clamp.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale and showing the clamp in engagement with several thicknesses of material.

In the accompanying drawings the clamp in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the numeral a. The clamp comprises a substantially U-shaped body 12a including a relatively long lower side 1411, a relatively short upper side 16a and a bight portion 18a connecting the same. A forwardly projecting, semi-cylindrical bearing 20a is provided at the free end of the side 16a for operative connection of a handle 22a to the body 12a, the handle including angularly offset portions 26a and 28a formed with slots 34a and 32a to receive the bearing 20a so that the handle is pivotally connected to the side 16a. The handle 22a also includes an angularly offset outer portion 60 formed with an opening 64, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

A substantially U-shaped leaf spring 38a is conformably disposed in the clamp body 12a and the upper leaf of the spring is engaged by the handle portion 28:: for urging the upper leaf toward the lower leaf of the spring when the handle 22a is pivotally swung to its closed position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, whereby compressible material 50a, such as superposed layers of a diaper,

for example, may be frictionally gripped between the spring leaves.

The gripping action on the material Siia is increased by providing opposite side edge portions of the lower spring leaf with undulations 68 which oppose and coact with depending ears 72, 74 at opposite sides of the handle portion 28a to compress the material 50a in the clamp, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The upper leaf of the spring 38a has an upturned free end portion 39a which constitutes a guide for insertion of the material 50a between the spring leaves, the spring portion 39a projecting into the aforementioned opening 64 in the handle portion 60 when the handle is swung to its closed or gripping position.

The material gripping action of the clamp is further enhanced by providing the lower side 14a of the body 12a with a raised abutment or detent 62 and when the handle 22:: is swung to its closed position, the handle portion 60 presses the material 50a against this abutment, as will be clearly apparent. The lower leaf of the spring 38a is formed with an opening 78 to accommodate the abutment 62 and to assist in retaining the spring in place in the clamp body.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What .is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A clamp comprising an approximately U-shaped body having an upper side and a lower side, said upper side being shorter than said lower side and spaced therefrom to provide an entrance to the body, a spring made of essentially flat stock fitting conformably to the inside surface of said body and attached to the longer side of said body and held against the shorter side of the body by the inherent resilience of the spring, a handle, means pivotally connecting said handle to said shorter side of said body, said handle having means by which to depress one side of said spring toward the other side thereof in response to pivotal movement of the handle, grippers connected with said clamp and rendered operative when said handle is moved to the clamp closing position to enhance the gripping action of the clamp on an article, said grippers including undulations provided at opposite side edges of the portion of said spring adjacent the lower side of said body, and a pair of depending ears provided on said handle adjacent the pivot means thereof, said ears being movable toward said undulations when the handle is moved to its clamping position.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said grippers also include an abutment on said body which cooperates with a portion of said handle to compress the article therebetween.

3. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said spring has an outwardly curved portion at the entrance to said clamp to enlarge the entrance of the clamp, said handle having an opening therein through which said portion of said spring projects when said handle is moved to the clamp closing position.

4. A clamp for fabric and other compressible material, comprising in combination a substantially U-shaped body including a bight portion, a relatively long lower side and a relatively short upper side, a substantially U-sh-aped leaf spring conformably disposed in said body and including a bight portion and a lower leaf in engage ment with the bight portion and lower side of the body respectively and an upper leaf resiliently movable toward and away from the upper side of the body, a handle pivotally connected to the free end of the upper side of the body and provided with cam means engaging the upper leaf of said spring whereby to move the upper leaf away from said upper side toward the lower leaf to clamp an article of compressible material between the leaves of the spring when said handle is pivoted from a released to a clamping position, said upper leaf of said spring having an upturned free end portion projecting beyond the free end of said upper side and constituting a guide for insertion of material between the spring leaves, said handle having a free end portion movable toward the free end portion of the lower side of said body when the handle is in its clamping position whereby to pressingly engage the stated material between the free end portions of the handle and of the lower side, the free end portion of the handle being provided with a clearance recess receiving the upturned portion of the upper leaf when the handle is in its clamping position.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 together with a raised abutment provided on the free end portion of said lower side for coaction with the free end portion of said handle to pressingly engage the material therebetween, the free end of the lower leaf of said spring engaging said abutment whereby to retain the spring in the clamp body.

6. The device as defined in claim 4 together with undulations provided at opposite sides of the intermediate portion of the lower leaf of said spring, and a pair of cars provided at the pivoted end of said handle, said ears being movable toward said undulations to clamp the ma terial therebetween when the handle is moved to its clamping position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,690 Dorand Dec. 1, 1885 1,624,253 Kilby Apr. 12, 1927 2,192,604 Painter Mar. 5, 1940 2,461,083 Rank Feb. 8, 1949 2,863,202 Hanna Dec. 9, 1958 

